Case for panel-mounted electrical instruments

ABSTRACT

A protective case arranged to contain an electrical instrument and to mount it upon an instrument panel in an opening provided therein is characterized by a tubular extruded body cut to preselected length to match the instrument contained, and a panel mount secured to the tubular body at one open end and having a mounting flange opposing resilient stepped catches to engage therebetween instrument panels of arbitrary thickness with the flange in each case abutting the front face of the instrument panel. The flange has snap catches located in its outer periphery to removably engage a front cover so that its peripheral wall is in flush contact with the instrument panel.

United States Patent 1191 Brefka Feb. 19, 1974 3,248,078 220/3 52,426,800 Triplett............................... 324/l56 CASE FORPANEL-MOUNTED ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTS [75] Inventor:

Primary ExaminerRobert K. Schaefer Assistant Examiner-'Gerald F. TolinAttorney, Agent [73] Assignee:

, 0r Firm-Howard M. Bollinger 57 ABSTRACT A protective case arranged tocontain an electrical in- [22] Filed:

strument and to mount it upon an instrument panel in an opening providedtherein is characterized by a tubular extruded body cut to preselectedlength to match the instrument contained, and a panel mount 0 NOH B 0H27 21 U S Cl [51] Int. Cl. 5 secured to the tubular body at one open endand havmg a mounting flange opposing resilient stepped catches to engagetherebetween instrument panels of arbitrary thickness with the flange ineach case abutting the front face of the instrument panel. The flangehas snap catches located in its outer periphery to removably engage afront cover so that its peripheral 220/3'6 wall is in flush contact withthe instrument panel.

220/3.6 7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures m xx References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 4/1968 Bassani........................... 7/1968 Di Pilla......2/1962 34 3, 02 24 I200 ,4 732 02; 1 03 U 1 9 3 4% 0 6 1 9& 3 72 11 3 1.H2 "8 n3 n3 n7 ml SH 7 01 3 l CASE FOR PANEL-MOUNTED ELECTRICALINSTRUMENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates to cases or housings for electrical instruments, andmore particularly to such cases which are to be mounted upon aninstrument panel in an opening provided therein. An example of the useof such cases is in the mounting of digital panel meters.

2. Description of the Prior Art Known cases forpanel-mounted instrumentsare generally fabricated to accommodate particular instruments. Newinstruments require anew design and new tooling. Moreover, known caseconstructions do not lend themselves well to rapid and sure mounting onan instrument panel. Where screw fasteners are employed, mounting can betime-consuming and tedious. In addition, known cases do not readilyprovide for flush mounting on the instrument panel and concealment ofthe mounting means irrespective of the thickness of the panel. These andother drawbacks of known constructions for panel-mounted cases tendto'make such cases expensive, difficult to use, and lacking in estheticappeal.

SU MMARY OF. THE INVENTION The objects of the present invention are toprovide panel-mounted instruments with a case whose design andconstruction adapt very easily to different electrical instruments,whose construction permits the case to be easily mounted to'aninstrument panel of arbitrary thickness, and to be mounted with theinstrument cover in flush engagement with the instrument panelirrespective of the thickness of the panel.

According to the invention, the protective case for containing anelectrical instrument and for mounting it upon an instrument panel in anopening provided therein, comprises a tubular extruded body with openends and having fastener receiving channels formed at selected interiorpoints and extending throughout the length of the body. Secured to thetubular body at one open end is a panel mounting member which has aflange abutting the frontfaec of the instrument panel and catches, forexample ofa stepped type, which resiliently engage the rear face of theinstrument panel and hold the case in position. In additional aspects,the panel mounting member has snap catches formed in the outer peripheryof its flange which engage a wall formed about the perimeter of a frontcover. The front cover thus fits flush against the front face of theinstrument panel, concealing the panel mounting member, with anesthetically pleasing appearance, but is readily removed.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for makingprotective cases for panel-mounted instruments. The method entailsforming a tubular body as described above by extruding it as acontinuous member with fastener receiving channels in its interiorsurface, cutting the extruded tubular member into individual bodies withlengths accommodating the particular instruments to be housed, andthereafter fastening end portions on the tubular bodies by means offasteners inserted into the fastener receiving channels in the bodies.

. 2 Other objects, aspects and advantages of the invention will bepointed out in, or apparent from, the detailed description hereinbelow,considered together with the following drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a protectivecase constructed according to the principles of the present invention,showing it as attached to an instrument panel and containing a digitalpanel meter;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the formation of tubularbodies employed in the protective case ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the case shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the case shown in FIG. 1, with portions insection;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the case of FIG. 1, with portions of thefront cover removed;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the case of FIG. 1, as seen from the rightside of FIG. '5',

FIG. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of FIG. 5; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are partial sections through the catches showing fasteningof the case to instrument panels of different thicknesses.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FlG. l illustrates a protectiveenclosure or case 10 constructed in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention. The case 10 houses an electrical instrument 12,such as the digital panel meter shown in FIG. 1, and is arranged formounting upon an instrument panel 14 having an opening 16 providedtherein (see, e.g., FIGS. 4 and 7). As shown in FIG. 3, case 10 has atubular body member 20, a rear cover 22 fastened over one open end oftubular body 20, a panel mount ing member 24 fastened at the other openend of tubular body 20, and a front cover 26 which engages panelmounting member 24.

In order to permit case 10 to accommodate electrical instruments 12 ofvarying dimensions, the tubular body 20 is cut to suitable length L froman extruded member 28 (FIG. 2), formed for example of aluminum. As shownin FIGS. 2 and 3, the tubular member 28, and hence each tubular body 20,has a rectangular cross section with four side walls. In the interiorcorners where the side walls join, rounded channels 30 are formedbetween extruded ridges or walls 32 to receive screw fasteners 34 (FIGS.3 and 4). Accordingly, for whatever length L is desired for tubular body20, there will exist automatically upon cutting of tubular member 28 aset of four fastener receiving channels 30 at each open end of tubularbody 20.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, rear cover 22 and panel mounting member 24 ofcase 10 are attached to the tu bular body 20 by means of screw fasteners34 which are inserted intofastener receiving channels 30.

Panel mounting member 24, as shown in FIGS. 3.

through 6, is formed from a single piece of injection molded plastic,and is arranged to automatically grip instrument panel 14 when case 10is inserted in opening 16 therein. Panel mounting member 24 has a planarportion 40 which abuts the end surface of tubular body 20 and provides aflange 42iext'ending outwardly from the periphery of tubular body 20 soas to contact the front face 14F of instrument panel 14 (FIGS. 7-9). Ex-

tending rearward from planar portion 40, in contact with opposite sidewalls of tubular body 20, are four U- shaped frames 44 carryingresilient catch members 46.

In their normal state (FIG. 3), the resilient catch members 46 extend atan angle from tubular body 20. When case is inserted in opening 16 ininstrument panel 14, resilient catch members 46 first flex inwardly whenpassing through the opening, and then return outwardly as their beveledfront faces 48 begin to pass the rear face 14R of instrument panel 14.As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the beveled front face 48 of each catchmember 46 is formed with a succession of steps or ridges which arespaced closely together and which are capable of engaging the rear edge14E of instrument panel 14 where opening 16 intersects rear face 14R.

Because the catch members 46 are resilient, being biased outwardlyagainst instrument panel 14, and because beveled surfaces 48 have asuccession of steps or ridges, case 10 may be mounted upon both thininstrument panels (FIG. 8) and thick instrument panels (FIG. 9) equallywell simply by inserting the case into opening 16 in instrument panel14. It is necessary, of course, that opening 16 be dimensionsed suitablyto receive case 10.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, whether instrument panel 14 is thick or thin,flange 42 will be held by catches 46 in abutment with the front face 14Fof the instrument panel. In accordance with the present invention, frontcover 26 is removably attached around flange 42 and held flush with thefront face 14F of the instrument panel. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, cover26, made generally of transparent clear or tinted plastic to permitviewing of instrument 12, is molded with a center wall 26C joining witha peripheral wall 26P which extends rearwardly a distance equal to thethickness of flange 42 so as to terminate at the front face 14F of theinstrument panel. Flange 42 has notches 50 provided in its rear edge(FIG. 3), and cover 26 has detents 52 extending from the inside ofperipheral wall 26F in locations for engagement with notches 50.Accordingly, front cover 26 is engaged with a snap fit-to panel mountingmember 24 simply by pressing it over flange 42 so that the detents 52will snap into notches 50. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6-9, front cover 26then is in flush engagement with the front face 14F ofinstrument panel14. By simply lifting it from flange 42, however, front cover 26 may bereadily removed for access to trimming or adjusting elements on thefront of instrument 12, such as numeral adjustment studs'on digitalpanel meters. Case 10, therefore, may be mounted to arbitrarythicknesses of instrument panel 14, and'front cover 26 automatically butremovably covers opening 16 and panel mounting member 24 with a flush,esthetically pleasing,

appearance.

Construction of case 10 proceeds by first extruding and cutting atubular body 20 in the manner described above. Next, pre-molded panelmounting members 24 are attached to tubular body 20 with screw fasteners34, the electrical instrument 12 is placed in tubular body 20, andpre-molded rear cover 22 is secured to tubular body 20 with screwfasteners 34.

To aid in locating rear wall 22 and panel mounting member 24 in properposition over the ends of tubular body 20, locating ridges 60 areprovided which rest against the inside surfaces of the side walls oftubular body 20 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 7-9). With front cover 26 eitherattached or removed from panel mounting memher 24, the case 10 isinserted into an opening 16 in an instrument panel 14. In the mannerdescribed above, resilient catch members automatically engage the rearface 14R of the instrument panel to hold case 10 between flange 42 andbeveled surfaces 48. Front cover 26 then has its peripheral wall 261 inengagement with the frontface 14F of the instrument panel.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosedherein in detail, it is to be understood that this is for the purpose ofillustrating the invention and should not be construed as necessarilylimiting the scope of the invention, since it is apparent that manychanges can be made to the disclosed structures and methods by thoseskilled in the art to suit particular applications.

I claim:

1. A protective case for containing an electrical instrument andarranged to be mounted upon an instrument panel in an opening providedtherein, comprising:

a tubular body having side walls, a uniform cross section throughout itslength, and open ends and accommodating the electrical instrumenttherewithin;

channels formed in the tubular body and extending throughout its lengthfor receiving fasteners;

Panel mounting means secured to the tubular bodyat one open end by meansof fasteners in said fastener receiving channels;

the panel mounting means having a planar member extending beyond theperiphery of the tubular body to form flange means for abutting thefront face of the instrument panel, and means for engaging the rear faceof theinstrument panel comprising resilient catches attached to theplanar member and movably depressed as the case is inserted in the panelopening, and flexing outwardly thereafter to engage the rear face ofthe'panel, so that the instrument panel is held between said flangemeans and said engaging means; and

a front cover over the flange means provided on the panel mountingmeans, and over the fasteners securing the tubular body to the panelmounting means.

2. A protective case as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tubular body hasfour side walls and said fastener receiving channels are located in theinterior corners of the tubular body and are formed by ridges integralwith the tubular body.

3. A protective case as claimed in claim 4 wherein the resilient catchesfor engaging the rear face of the instrument panel have stepped engagingsurfaces which are beveled so as to engage the panel .at the edge of theopening therein, whereby instrument panels of arbitrary thickness can beengaged by the resilient catches.

4.A protective case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover has acentral wall and a wall about its perimeter arranged to fit over theflange means on the panel mounting means, whereby said cover fits inflush engagement with the front face of the instrument panel.

5. A protective case for containing an electrical instrument andarranged to be mounted upon an instrument panel in an opening providedtherein, comprising:

a tubular body having side walls and open ends and accommodating theelectrical instrument therewithin, 7

means formed in the tubular body for receiving fasteners;

panel mounting means secured to the tubular body at one open end bymeans of fasteners in said receiving means;

the panel mounting means having flange means for abutting the front faceof the instrument panel and means for engaging the rear face of theinstrument panel so that the instrument panel is held between saidflange means and said engaging means; and

a front cover over the flange means provided on the panel mountingmeans,

said cover having a central .wall about its perimeter fitting over theflange means on the panel mounting means, whereby said cover fits inflush engagement with the front face of the instrument panel,

said flange means and said cover being arranged with notches and detentmeans for engaging the flange means outer periphery with the perimetricwall of said cover, whereby said cover is engaged with the flange meansby a snap fitting interlock.

6. A protective case as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a rearcover secured to the tubular body at its other open end by means offasteners inserted into the fastener receiving channels of the tubularbody.

7. A protective case for obtaining a digital panel meter of the typehaving a front adjustment element and arranged to mount the digitalpanel meter upon an instrument panel in an opening provided therein,comprising a tubular body having side walls and open ends andaccommodating the digital panel meter therewithin;

panel mounting means secured to the tubular body at one open end, thepanel mounting means having flange means for abutting the front face ofthe instrument panel and means for engaging the rear face of theinstrument panel so that the instrument panel is held between saidflange means and said engaging means; and

a front cover over the flange means on the panel mounting means in flushcontact with the front face of the instrument panel and covering theface of the digital panel meter;

said front cover and flange means having detent means for securing thefront cover to the flange means and for permitting removal of the frontcover to provide access to the adjusting element of the digital panelmeter therebehirid.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 1 atent No. 93,563M Y I Dated Febfuafv 19, 1974 Inyentofls) v i ul l fi f i It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that;said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 49 Change "4" 'to l- Column 5,. line 24 I Change"obtaining" to -containin Signedgand sealed this 2nd day of Ju1y l97 4.-

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M." FLBTCHERJR. C.MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer commissipner ofPatents v DRM PC4050 (10-69) "uscommroc scan-p09 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE v v CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 I 793 563 v DatedFebruarv 19; 1974 Inventofls) aul v B fki It is certified that errorappears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown 'below:

Column 4, line 49 Change "4" 'to l Column 5, line 24 I Change"obtaining" to --con ta ining- Signed and sealed, this 2nd day of July;1974.-

(SEAL) Attest: g v

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. C.MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents ORM PQ'WSO I '-uscomwoc agave-ps9

1. A protective case for containing an electrical instrument andarranged to be mounted upoN an instrument panel in an opening providedtherein, comprising: a tubular body having side walls, a uniform crosssection throughout its length, and open ends and accommodating theelectrical instrument therewithin; channels formed in the tubular bodyand extending throughout its length for receiving fasteners; Panelmounting means secured to the tubular body at one open end by means offasteners in said fastener receiving channels; the panel mounting meanshaving a planar member extending beyond the periphery of the tubularbody to form flange means for abutting the front face of the instrumentpanel, and means for engaging the rear face of the instrument panelcomprising resilient catches attached to the planar member and movablydepressed as the case is inserted in the panel opening, and flexingoutwardly thereafter to engage the rear face of the panel, so that theinstrument panel is held between said flange means and said engagingmeans; and a front cover over the flange means provided on the panelmounting means, and over the fasteners securing the tubular body to thepanel mounting means.
 2. A protective case as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe tubular body has four side walls and said fastener receivingchannels are located in the interior corners of the tubular body and areformed by ridges integral with the tubular body.
 3. A protective case asclaimed in claim 4 wherein the resilient catches for engaging the rearface of the instrument panel have stepped engaging surfaces which arebeveled so as to engage the panel at the edge of the opening therein,whereby instrument panels of arbitrary thickness can be engaged by theresilient catches.
 4. A protective case as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid cover has a central wall and a wall about its perimeter arranged tofit over the flange means on the panel mounting means, whereby saidcover fits in flush engagement with the front face of the instrumentpanel.
 5. A protective case for containing an electrical instrument andarranged to be mounted upon an instrument panel in an opening providedtherein, comprising: a tubular body having side walls and open ends andaccommodating the electrical instrument therewithin; means formed in thetubular body for receiving fasteners; panel mounting means secured tothe tubular body at one open end by means of fasteners in said receivingmeans; the panel mounting means having flange means for abutting thefront face of the instrument panel and means for engaging the rear faceof the instrument panel so that the instrument panel is held betweensaid flange means and said engaging means; and a front cover over theflange means provided on the panel mounting means, said cover having acentral wall about its perimeter fitting over the flange means on thepanel mounting means, whereby said cover fits in flush engagement withthe front face of the instrument panel, said flange means and said coverbeing arranged with notches and detent means for engaging the flangemeans outer periphery with the perimetric wall of said cover, wherebysaid cover is engaged with the flange means by a snap fitting interlock.6. A protective case as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a rearcover secured to the tubular body at its other open end by means offasteners inserted into the fastener receiving channels of the tubularbody.
 7. A protective case for containing a digital panel meter of thetype having a front adjustment element and arranged to mount the digitalpanel meter upon an instrument panel in an opening provided therein,comprising a tubular body having side walls and open ends andaccommodating the digital panel meter therewithin; panel mounting meanssecured to the tubular body at one open end, the panel mounting meanshaving flange means for abutting the front face of the instrument paneland means for engaging the rear face of the instrument panel so that theinstrument panel is held between said flaNge means and said engagingmeans; and a front cover over the flange means on the panel mountingmeans in flush contact with the front face of the instrument panel andcovering the face of the digital panel meter; said front cover andflange means having detent means for securing the front cover to theflange means and for permitting removal of the front cover to provideaccess to the adjusting element of the digital panel meter therebehind.